About

History of the Past Pupils’ Union

Muckross Park Past Pupils’ Union was formed in 1912, just 12 years after the Dominican College in Marlborough Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 was founded, making it the oldest Catholic girl’s past pupils’ union in Ireland. It seems there was a Past Pupils Union almost as soon as there was a past pupil! The following is an extract from the convent Annals:

“On 18th March 1912 Three of our Past Pupils The Misses Florrie and Eily McGloughlin and Miss Ivy Powell approached Mother Prioress (Martina) and asked for her permission to form a Union for our Past Pupils. The permission was willingly given and invitations were sent out to all and sundry Past Pupils. The result was good; a large gathering of P.P. Muckross met in the “Hall” (the present library 1956). This was the first Union for Dominican Secondary girls’ schools in or about Dublin.”

The aim of the Union has been to encourage and help past pupils to remain in contact with the school and with each other. We do this mainly through our yearly newsletter – the Muckross Mail – which was started in the early 1970s and by a number of social events such as the Annual Dinner, monthly Mass, Golf Society outings, Writers Workshop and other events.

Our other major activity is fund raising for the Union’s Benevolent Fund which is used to help (on a totally confidential basis) past pupils who might be experiencing financial difficulties. We also help support the Etafeni Playgroup Project which is run by Dominican nuns in Capetown, South Africa – see photos in our Photo Gallery. This project was set up in 1983 in Nyanga near Capetown to care for children who are deprived of food and healthy development. We do all this through Annual Subscriptions and from the proceeds of our Annual Raffle and various functions. So by becoming a member of the PPU, attending any of our functions, or supporting our Annual Raffle you will be helping too.

Muckross has always been more than just a school. There is a Muckross ‘spirit’ which is very evident whenever past pupils meet. This spirit we feel sure will continue to grow within the new school building which was officially opened on 19th April 2007.

The school’s past pupils form a large cross section of Irish women who have fulfilled many and varied roles throughout the years. The PPU has great potential for networking, as the “old boys” do so well. You are a past pupil as soon as you leave the school – you don’t have to wait for grey hairs before you join!